This book is for nurses and advanced practice nurses working in all types of clinical settings: critical care, telemetry/step down units, emergency departments, chest pain centers, cardiac/interventional catheterization laboratories, physician offices, clinics, cardiac rehabilitation, and home health care. The second edition has updated information on new guidelines for managing patients with cardiovascular diseases, and expanded content in several chapters for advanced practice nurses working with patients who have cardiovascular diseases. Although the major focus is on cardiovascular nursing practice, there are chapters that address non-cardiac issues such as pulmonary and renal disorders, electrolyte imbalances, and sepsis. In addition, there are two new chapters on Sudden Death and Shock States, and Adults with Congenital Heart Disease. There is so much new information that the second edition is being printed in two volumes.

Features of this book that make it a user friendly reference for nurses include:

• Size 12 font for easy reading

• Full page layout

• Combination of prose and bulleted text (no outlines!)

• Illustrations to help explain concepts discussed in the text

• Summary of the most recent guidelines from American Heart Association and American College of Cardiology for managing specific cardiovascular diseases

• Linking Knowledge to Practice sections to help you apply what you have read to clinical practice

• Knowledge assessment questions or practice rhythm strips and ECGs at the end of each chapter to test your understanding of content presented